Blackhawks fly in

Cavalry unit makes a stop in commander’s hometown

Members of the 4-6 Air Cavalry unload after landing on Tuesday. The Daily Triplicate/Bryant Anderson

Crescent City was invaded Tuesday night, sort of.

Five Blackhawk troop transport helicopters thundered over the town and landed to an appreciative audience of about 70 people watching at the Del Norte County Airport.

The 4-6 Air Cavalry out of Fort Lewis, Wash., made an unusual pit stop in Crescent City on its way home from training at Fort Irwin, Calif.

Why? Because the unit’s commanding officer is a local.

Army Maj. Aadam Trask, the 4-6’s commanding officer, was taking one of his last flights in a 28-year career as a helicopter pilot. Trask is retiring at the end of the year.

To see more photos from this event click here.

Tammy laughed self-consciously, but she was right.

As the UH-60 Blackhawks flew in low from the east, they looked like dark and dangerous dragonflies, steady in formation.

Five UH-60 Blackhawks approach the airport. The Daily Triplicate/Bryant Anderson

“My commanding officer said that it was OK if we used Crescent City for our stopping point on the way home,” Trask said. “I have always wanted to land in my hometown. It’s a real treat.”

It takes two days to get from Fort Irwin to Fort Lewis by Blackhawk.

The helicopters need fuel, and Army regulations require that pilots have a break from flying for safety reasons.

“We usually stop, fuel up and that’s it,” said Crew Chief Mech­anic Jon Fagan. “This is special.”

Unit commander Maj. Aadam Trask smiles after landing in Crescent City, something he said he has always wanted to do. The Daily Triplicate/Bryant Anderson

Trask’s excitement was obvious as he hugged his wife and talked to family and friends through the airport’s chain-link fence.

“I’m so excited to be done,” Trask said. “Don’t get me wrong, I’m going to miss it, but it will be nice to be home with my family.”

The local chapter of the Veterans of Foreign Wars is hosting a breakfast at the Elk Valley Casino this morning before Trask’s unit takes off.

“We made some plaques to give to our soldiers,” said Cres­cent City resident and Korean War veteran Harold Martin. “A gesture of how we support and honor their service.”

And judging by the happy grins and jaunty expressions, the Air Cavalry members appreciated the welcome.

“This is a great ending to a great flight,” Trask said. “Flying up that coastline was just so amazing; it was so beautiful, it almost made flying hard.”